Accident avoidance systems and methods

A system for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles, comprising:

• a first positioning system arranged in the first vehicle for determining the absolute position and velocity of the first vehicle,
• a memory unit arranged in the first vehicle for storing data relating to travel lanes,
• a second positioning system for determining position and velocity of the second vehicle,
• a processor coupled to said first positioning system, said memory unit and said second positioning system for
• receiving traffic control information,
• determining whether the second vehicle is traveling in an intersecting path to the first vehicle based on the position and velocity of the second vehicle, the travel lane data and the traffic control information, and
• when the second vehicle is determined to be in an intersecting path, predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position and velocity of the first and second vehicles and the travel lane data, and
• a reactive component or system arranged in the first vehicle and coupled to said processor, said component or system being arranged to initiate an action or change its operation when a collision is predicted.

A method for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles at intersections, comprising:

• determining the absolute position and velocity of the first vehicle,
• storing data in a memory unit relating to travel lanes,
• determining the absolute position and velocity of the second vehicle,
• providing traffic control information to the first vehicle,
• predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position and velocity of the first and second vehicles, the travel lane data and the traffic control information, and
• initiating an action or changing operation by a reactive component or system in the first vehicle when a collision is predicted.

A system for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles, comprising:

• a first positioning system arranged in the first vehicle for determining the absolute position of the first vehicle,
• a memory unit arranged in the first vehicle for storing data about travel lanes and data about the location of traffic control devices,
• a second positioning system arranged in the second vehicle for determining the absolute position of the second vehicle,
• a communication system arranged at least partially in the second vehicle and coupled to said second positioning system for transmitting the position of the second vehicle to the first vehicle,
• a first receiver system arranged in the first vehicle for receiving position information from the second vehicle and information about the status of the traffic control devices,
• a processor coupled to said first positioning system, said first receiver system and said memory unit for predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position of the first and second vehicles, the travel lane data and the status of the traffic control devices, and
• a reactive component or system arranged in the first vehicle and coupled to said processor, said component or system being arranged to initiate an action or change its operation when a collision is predicted by said processor.

A system for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles, comprising:

• a first positioning system arranged in the first vehicle for determining the absolute position of the first vehicle,
• a memory unit arranged in the first vehicle for storing data about travel lanes,
• a second positioning system arranged in the second vehicle for determining the absolute position of the second vehicle,
• a communication system arranged at least partially in the second vehicle and coupled to said second positioning system for transmitting the position of the second vehicle to the first vehicle,
• a first receiver system arranged in the first vehicle for receiving position information from the second vehicle,
• a processor coupled to said first positioning system, said first receiver system and said memory unit for predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position of the first and second vehicles and the travel lane data, and
• a reactive component or system arranged in the first vehicle and coupled to said processor, said component or system being arranged to initiate an action or change its operation when a collision is predicted by said processor,
• said processor being structured and arranged to receive data on at least one of weather conditions and traffic information and control operation of the first vehicle based thereon or display such data to the operator of the first vehicle.

A system for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles, comprising:

• a first positioning system arranged in the first vehicle for determining the absolute position and velocity of the first vehicle,
• a memory unit arranged in the first vehicle for storing data relating to travel lanes and data about the location of traffic control devices,
• a second positioning system for determining position and velocity of the second vehicle,
• a receiver system arranged in the first vehicle for receiving information about the status of the traffic control devices,
• a processor coupled to said first positioning system, said memory unit, said receiver system and said second positioning system for
• determining whether the second vehicle is traveling in an intersecting path to the first vehicle based on the position and velocity of the second vehicle and the travel lane data, and
• when the second vehicle is determined to be in an intersecting path, predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position and velocity of the first and second vehicles, the travel lane data and the status of traffic control devices, and
• a reactive component or system arranged in the first vehicle and coupled to said processor, said component or system being arranged to initiate an action or change its operation when a collision is predicted.

A system for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles, comprising:

• a first positioning system arranged in the first vehicle for determining the absolute position and velocity of the first vehicle,
• a memory unit arranged in the first vehicle for storing data relating to travel lanes,
• a second positioning system for determining position and velocity of the second vehicle,
• a processor coupled to said first positioning system, said memory unit and said second positioning system for
• receiving data on at least one of weather conditions and traffic accidents,
• control operation of the first vehicle based on the data about the at least one of the weather conditions and traffic information or display such data to the driver,
• determining whether the second vehicle is traveling in an intersecting path to the first vehicle based on the position and velocity of the second vehicle and the travel lane data, and
• when the second vehicle is determined to be in an intersecting path, predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position and velocity of the first and second vehicles and the travel lane data, and
• a reactive component or system arranged in the first vehicle and coupled to said processor, said component or system being arranged to initiate an action or change its operation when a collision is predicted.

A system for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles, comprising:

• a first positioning system arranged in the first vehicle for determining the absolute position and velocity of the first vehicle,
• a memory unit arranged in the first vehicle for storing data relating to travel lanes,
• a second positioning system for determining position and velocity of the second vehicle,
• a processor coupled to said first positioning system, said memory unit and said second positioning system for
• determining whether the second vehicle is traveling in an intersecting path to the first vehicle based on the position and velocity of the second vehicle and the travel lane data, and
• when the second vehicle is determined to be in an intersecting path, predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position and velocity of the first and second vehicles and the travel lane data, and
• a reactive component or system arranged in the first vehicle and coupled to said processor, said component or system being arranged to initiate an action or change its operation when a collision is predicted, said reactive component or system being a vehicle guidance system for automatically guiding the first vehicle.

A system for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles, comprising:

• a first positioning system arranged in the first vehicle for determining the absolute position and velocity of the first vehicle,
• a memory unit arranged in the first vehicle for storing data relating to travel lanes,
• a second positioning system arranged on the first vehicle for determining position and velocity of the second vehicle,
• a processor coupled to said first positioning system, said memory unit and said second positioning system for
• determining whether the second vehicle is traveling in an intersecting path to the first vehicle based on the position and velocity of the second vehicle and the travel lane data, and
• when the second vehicle is determined to be in an intersecting path, predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position and velocity of the first and second vehicles and the travel lane data, and
• a reactive component or system arranged in the first vehicle and coupled to said processor, said component or system being arranged to initiate an action or change its operation when a collision is predicted.

A system for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles, comprising:

• a first positioning system arranged in the first vehicle for determining the absolute position and velocity of the first vehicle,
• a memory unit arranged in the first vehicle for storing data relating to travel lanes,
• a second positioning system fixed at a known location for determining position and velocity of the second vehicle,
• a processor coupled to said first positioning system, said second positioning system, said memory unit and said second positioning system for
• determining whether the second vehicle is traveling in an intersecting path to the first vehicle based on the position and velocity of the second vehicle and the travel lane data, and
• when the second vehicle is determined to be in an intersecting path, predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position and velocity of the first and second vehicles and the travel lane data, and
• a reactive component or system arranged in the first vehicle and coupled to said processor, said component or system being arranged to initiate an action or change its operation when a collision is predicted.

A method for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles at intersections, comprising:

• determining the absolute position and velocity of the first vehicle,
• storing data in a memory unit relating to travel lanes,
• determining the absolute position and velocity of the second vehicle,
• providing the status of traffic control devices to the first vehicle,
• predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position and velocity of the first and second vehicles, the travel lane data and the status of the traffic control devices, and
• initiating an action or changing operation by a reactive component or system in the first vehicle when a collision is predicted.

A method for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles at intersections, comprising:

• fixedly arranging a positioning system at the intersection of the lanes in which the first and second vehicles are traveling,
• determining the absolute position and velocity of the first and second vehicles by means of the positioning system using a wave-propagation phenomena,
• storing data in a memory unit relating to travel lanes,
• predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position and velocity of the first and second vehicles and the travel lane data, and
• initiating an action or changing operation by a reactive component or system in the first vehicle when a collision is predicted.

A method for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles at intersections, comprising:

• determining the absolute position and velocity of the first vehicle,
• storing data in a memory unit relating to travel lanes, the memory unit being separate from the first and second vehicles,
• determining the absolute position and velocity of the second vehicle,
• predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position and velocity of the first and second vehicles and the travel lane data, and
• initiating an action or changing operation by a reactive component or system in the first vehicle when a collision is predicted.

A method for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles at intersections, comprising:

• determining the absolute position and velocity of the first vehicle,
• storing data in a memory unit relating to travel lanes,
• determining the absolute position and velocity of the second vehicle,
• predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position and velocity of the first and second vehicles and the travel lane data, the processor being at a location separate from the first and second vehicles,
• initiating an action or changing operation by a reactive component or system in the first vehicle when a collision is predicted, and
• providing wireless communications from the processor to the reactive component or system.

A system for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles, comprising:

• a first positioning system arranged in the first vehicle for determining the absolute position of the first vehicle,
• a memory unit arranged in the first vehicle for storing data about travel lanes,
• a second positioning system arranged in the second vehicle for determining the absolute position of the second vehicle,
• a communication system arranged at least partially in the second vehicle and coupled to said second positioning system for transmitting the position of the second vehicle to the first vehicle and data about planned evasive action of the second vehicle to the first vehicle,
• a first receiver system arranged in the first vehicle for receiving position and movement information from the second vehicle,
• a processor coupled to said first positioning system, said first receiver system and said memory unit for predicting a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the position of the first and second vehicles, the travel lane data, and planned future movement evasive action of the second vehicle, and
• a reactive component or system arranged in the first vehicle and coupled to said processor, said component or system being arranged to initiate an action or change its operation when a collision is predicted by said processor.